This peanut butter bacon burger is the perfect blend of sweetness and saltiness with a touch of savory goodness in every bite. It's unbelievable but peanut butter and bacon are absolutely wonderful on a burger and definitely worth a try. Really.
One of the things I love most about this recipe is you can use store bought burgers or make homemade burger patties or keep it simple a bit of sea salt and fresh ground beef.
Burgers are an easy weeknight meal and always a family favorite! If you love burgers then you definitely need to check out these ground pork burgers, smoked burgers, or a grilled cheese burger.
Why You Will Love This Burger Recipe
- A unique flavor combination. This burger brings together the nutty taste of peanut butter with the smoky, savory flavor of bacon for an unforgettable taste experience.
- Versatile recipe. Choose your favorite brand of peanut butter, cook the bacon to your desired crispiness, and add any additional toppings you like and the burgers can be cooked on the stovetop, grill, or oven.
- Simple ingredients. You don't need to add much to your grocery list to make peanut butter hamburgers.
- Kid-friendly weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Here's a glance at the main ingredients you need. The full list and quantities of each are in the recipe card further down the page.
- Burgers: Use any type you want!
- Bacon: I personally think applewood-smoked or maple-flavored bacon taste the best but really any type of bacon you love will work.
- Peanut Butter: You can use smooth or crunchy peanut butter depending on your preference.
- Hamburger Buns: Use sesame seed buns, potato buns, brioche buns, pretzel buns, whole wheat buns, or your favorite. Toasted or not. The choice is yours.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are some ways you can alter the recipe to further elevate your Peanut Butter Bacon Burger:
- Spicy - Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, spicy sauce, diced jalapeno pepper, homemade hot pepper sauce, our jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the peanut butter for a bit of heat, if desired.
- Add Jelly: Add some jelly for a peanut butter and jelly burger.
- Add Cheese: We love sharp or medium cheddar cheese but feel free to choose your favorite. We usually melt cheese on one half of the bun while toasting it.
- Add Toppings: The sky is the limit but you can consider lettuce, onion (red, white, or yellow), tomato, or pickles.
- Experiment with Your Bacon: Try making our air fryer candied brown sugar bacon, sweet glazed bacon, or our air fryer bacon twists.
How to Make Peanut Butter Bacon Burgers
Let's get to cooking up some of the best burgers. Here's a look at the highlights but all the details can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Cook the burgers using the method you prefer. This can be on the barbecue, baked in the oven, or in a skillet on the stove. Once they're cooked place them in the oven to keep warm.
- Cook the bacon until it's crisp and then drain well.
- Spread peanut butter all over the bottom half of your buns.
- Top with a burger.
- Add the bacon on top of the burger patty.
- Cover with the top bun.
The idea here is to slightly melt and warm the peanut butter. We usually do not add anything else on top of the burger. Enjoy!
Hint: Keep burgers warm inside your oven so both the burger and bacon are warm for serving.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our everything burger.
Storage
These burgers are best enjoyed freshly made but you can certainly store leftovers to enjoy in the future.
- Leftovers: Store them in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic and foil after they are fully cooled. Store in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. If you wish to be able to pull out a burger at a time from the freezer place a piece of parchment between the patties.
- Reheat: Place the burger in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Cook fresh bacon while heating burgers or heat leftover bacon with burgers. Once hot you can assemble your burgers as directed in the recipe.
What to Serve with Peanut Butter Bacon Burger
Here are some flavorful and creative side dishes to complete your meal.
- Fries: Air fryer frozen sweet potato fries, nacho fries, mashed potato fries, or asparagus fries.
- Salad: Enjoy this jalapeno coleslaw, sweet Grandma's coleslaw, cucumber salad, or a mixed green salad with a light pomegranate vinaigrette, chardonnay vinaigrette, or lemon mustard vinaigrette.
- For a burger and shake, try our salted caramel milkshake!
- Set up a burger bar and provide various toppings, such as pickles, caramelized onions, and sliced tomatoes, so everyone can customize their burger to their liking.
Tips
Here are some tips to make sure your burgers turn out great!
- Use good quality bacon. We really love applewood-smoked bacon or maple flavored for best results but all bacon will work well.
- Crisp bacon is best.
- Toast the buns under the broiler or on the grill for a couple of minutes to add a slightly crunchy texture.
- Keep burgers warm in the oven so the burgers and bacon are warm for serving.
- Heat peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl for about 30 to 60 seconds to make it more easily spreadable.
FAQ
Do you have questions about peanut butter burgers? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about these peanut butter and bacon burgers.
The first known appearance of this unique burger was in Sedalia, Missouri, at a small drive-in burger joint that introduced their Guberburger which was covered in peanut butter.
To make a peanut butter and jelly bacon burger, prepare a traditional peanut butter bacon burger and add a layer of your favorite jelly or jam to one side of the bun. Some popular jelly choices for this type of burger include grape or raspberry. Spread the jelly evenly on the bun before assembling the burger for a sweet and savory twist on the original recipe.
The ideal fat content for ground beef to make a juicy burger should be around 20%. Leaner ground beef may be healthier, but it can result in dry burgers. If given a choice ground chuck has an ideal fat ratio.
Sprinkle a pinch of salt on the outside of store-bought burger patties. With homemade, gently break the meat apart in a large bowl and sprinkle the ground beef with salt. Use 1 teaspoon of salt for approximately 1 ½ pounds of ground beef, or four burgers.
Right before you are going to cook your hamburgers, make a shallow dent in the middle of your burger about half an inch deep.
More Burger Recipes
Do you like burgers? Here some recipes you may also like to try.
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
The BEST Peanut Butter Bacon Burger
Equipment
- Rubber spatula or butter knife for smearing peanut butter
Ingredients
- 4 burgers, store bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon sea salt divided
- 8-12 slices bacon
- ½-¾ cup peanut butter
- 4 hamburger buns, any kind, split
Instructions
- These burgers work when they are timed perfectly. You may have a better idea but this is how we prepare them. Preheat your oven to 275 degrees. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil and set aside.
- We barbecue, bake or fry the burgers, with ¼ teaspoon of sea salt sprinkled over top of each one. We usually take our hands and press the salt slightly into the top of the burger if they are store bought. If the burgers are homemade then I put the salt right into the burger mixture and we skip this salt step.
- Once cooked, place them in the oven, on your prepared sheet, to keep warm.
- In a large skillet prepare your bacon until crisp. Place on paper towel to drain.
- As bacon is cooking slice or split your hamburger buns. You can toast or heat them if desired. We sometimes do and sometimes do not. That is up too you.
- Smear peanut butter all over the bottom half of your buns. Quickly, as the bacon is cooked and drained, and still hot, place on top of the peanut butter.
- Immediately after, place your hot burgers on top of the bacon. The idea here is to slightly melt and warm the peanut butter. Place the top half of your bun on top of the burger and serve immediately. We usually do not add anything else on top of the burger. Enjoy!
Notes
-
Use good quality bacon. We really love applewood-smoked bacon or maple flavored for best results but all bacon will work well.
Crisp bacon is best.
Toast the buns under the broiler or on the grill for a couple of minutes to add a slightly crunchy texture.
Keep burgers warm in the oven so the burgers and bacon are warm for serving.
Heat peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl for about 30 to 60 seconds to make it more easily spreadable.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in September 2016. It has been updated with new content and images.
owen
Loved the addition of peanut butter. Never tried it before but it tasted great. Thank you for the idea. Ill be makin them again.
Karin and Ken
As always, you are most welcome. I couldn't believe how delicious they tasted with peanut butter and bacon the first time I tried it either. Glad you enjoyed it too! All the best. Karin